So I bought some 75g Hornady OTM bullets a while back to test in 223. Saw in another thread here https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=614522 the OP was having good results with H335 with 62-65g bullets so I picked up 1lb to play with in addition to CFE223 and BL-C(2). Got some rounds loaded for initial testing and got to the range today.
Only 1 round fired each, I was doing function and pressure testing. I took chrono data just to get a ballpark idea of where velocities were at.
I was hoping to be in the 2700 ish FPS range at or near max. Based on todays testing I will be going forward with the BL-C(2) up to 26.0g based on Hodgdon's data. Next test will be 10rnds each, going down from max in 0.2g increments to check for a stable velocity node. After that it will be playing with seating depth to tune accuracy.
Mixed 223 brass
Hornady 450 Small rifle magnum Primers
Seated to 2.250 per Hornady
Firm crimp, as they are going in an AR. Lee factory collet crimp.
All charges were weighed
16in barrel, 5.56 chamber, 1:7 twist.
BL-C(2)
22.8, 2303fps
23.1, 2338fps
23.4, 2417fps
23.7, 2475fps
24.0, 2519fps
24.3, 2544fps
24.6, 2577fps
24.9, 2578fps
25.2, 2656fps
CFE223
22.5, 2306fps
22.8, 2338fps
23.1, 2385fps
23.4, 2409fps
23.7, 2451fps
24.0, 2460fps
24.3, 2512fps
24.6, 2605fps
24.9, 2587fps
H335
20.6, 2241fps
20.9, 2259fps
21.2, 2288fps
21.5, 2396fps
21.8, 2362fps
22.1, 2398fps
22.4, 2506fps
22.7, 2461fps
23.0, 2581fps
Had some odd velocity variations with H335 up near the top, 22.4 to 23.0 . Had Similar problems with CFE223 in 24.6 to 24.9g
Update
Well, i got a burr in my saddle, had the rounds loaded, went back to the range again
Once fired lake city
Cci 450 small rifle magnum primers
Bl-c(2) powder
Hornady 75g otm seated 2.250
10rnds per string
25.2 avg 2652, sd 10.19, es 35
25.4 avg 2675, sd 13.79, es 44
25.6 avg 2689, sd 21.58, es 75
25.8 avg 2687, sd 28.67, es99
26.0, avg 2710, sd 36.22, es 117
Gonna go with 25.2g and hopefully do seating test in a few days.
Only 1 round fired each, I was doing function and pressure testing. I took chrono data just to get a ballpark idea of where velocities were at.
I was hoping to be in the 2700 ish FPS range at or near max. Based on todays testing I will be going forward with the BL-C(2) up to 26.0g based on Hodgdon's data. Next test will be 10rnds each, going down from max in 0.2g increments to check for a stable velocity node. After that it will be playing with seating depth to tune accuracy.
Mixed 223 brass
Hornady 450 Small rifle magnum Primers
Seated to 2.250 per Hornady
Firm crimp, as they are going in an AR. Lee factory collet crimp.
All charges were weighed
16in barrel, 5.56 chamber, 1:7 twist.
BL-C(2)
22.8, 2303fps
23.1, 2338fps
23.4, 2417fps
23.7, 2475fps
24.0, 2519fps
24.3, 2544fps
24.6, 2577fps
24.9, 2578fps
25.2, 2656fps
CFE223
22.5, 2306fps
22.8, 2338fps
23.1, 2385fps
23.4, 2409fps
23.7, 2451fps
24.0, 2460fps
24.3, 2512fps
24.6, 2605fps
24.9, 2587fps
H335
20.6, 2241fps
20.9, 2259fps
21.2, 2288fps
21.5, 2396fps
21.8, 2362fps
22.1, 2398fps
22.4, 2506fps
22.7, 2461fps
23.0, 2581fps
Had some odd velocity variations with H335 up near the top, 22.4 to 23.0 . Had Similar problems with CFE223 in 24.6 to 24.9g
Update
Well, i got a burr in my saddle, had the rounds loaded, went back to the range again
Once fired lake city
Cci 450 small rifle magnum primers
Bl-c(2) powder
Hornady 75g otm seated 2.250
10rnds per string
25.2 avg 2652, sd 10.19, es 35
25.4 avg 2675, sd 13.79, es 44
25.6 avg 2689, sd 21.58, es 75
25.8 avg 2687, sd 28.67, es99
26.0, avg 2710, sd 36.22, es 117
Gonna go with 25.2g and hopefully do seating test in a few days.
Last edited: